Recorded: May 30th, 2007
Speakers: 4 Students
Show: 74

Upaya Residents Rinshin, Jisen, Yushin and Myokei discuss the factors and conditions which led them to the practice of Zen and the long term commitment to engaed service through residency at Upaya.

Recorded: May 11th, 2007
Speakers: Enkyo Roshi and Roshi Joan Halifax

Enkyo Roshi and Roshi Joan Halifax use this koan to discuss practicing moment to moment awareness. The historical significance of koans which depict the wisdom of old women who see into the nature of reality is related as is the historical connection between Mt Taishan and Manjushri. The old woman as symbol of discernment and complete freedom is explored as it relates to the parts of ourselves which embody these qualities and experiences in our practice of the Way. The importance of defeat and getting lost (stepping out of the known) is also illuminated.

More on Koan

Recorded: May 9th, 2007
Speakers: Enkyo Roshi and Roshi Joan Halifax

Enkyo Roshi and Roshi Joan Halifax discuss the story of he Buddha’s birth while weaving the natural world into the theme both as it expresses birth seasonally and also how it figured into the Buddha’s whole practice life. Enkyo Roshi tells a ‘baby’ koan and Roshi Joan ties the birth theme to a quality of mind.

Recorded: May 8th, 2007
Speaker: Roshi Joan Halifax and Enkyo Roshi

This talk was given during Day 1 of the Mountains and Monastery Sesshin and revolves around the theme of rolling everything we encounter into our practice. Enkyo Roshi opens the talk with a discussion about koan stories and then Roshi Joan uses several personal anecdotes from a trip to Tibet to humorously depict the need to learn sensitivity to life as it unfolds and to learn the deep use for everything and how to discern the right place to put things.

More on Upaya
More on Tibet

Brother David Steindl-Rast and Roshi Joan
Recorded on May 2nd, 2007

In this wonderful treasure, Brother David Steindl-Rast gives us the gift of present-minded gratefulness. He and Roshi discuss the subtle aspects of complaining along with the practicality of being truly appreciative.